Borussia Dortmund: Analysing the 3-4-3 system under Lucien Favre
Mats Hummels: Best Libero in the World
Leave alone Lucien Favre’s system in Dortmund, this is arguably the most important role in any 3-4-3. The inclusion of a defender at the cost of a midfielder means that someone needs to take up the responsibility of progressing the ball into the middle and final-third.
The central most defender in the 3-4-3 is positioned similar to a lone-pivot in a 4-3-3 like we have seen over the years in Pep Guardiola’s teams with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Phillip Lahm, Fernandinho and Rodri playing that role now. The central defender hence, is in charge of moving the ball forward and move the team from the first phase of build up towards advanced attacking positions. This role is what was classically called the Libero in the good ol’ days when back-three was the norm in football.
The very shape of the 3-4-3 during build-up, compliments the task in hand for the libero. In Dortmund’s case, Hummels plays the libero with the left and right-sided center-backs being Akanji/Zagadou and Pisczcek respectively.
The right and left-sided center-backs stretch on either sides to make it difficult for the opposition attackers to press. There is also the support of wing-backs positioned higher up the field to circulate possession out-wide in the form of Hakimi & Guerreiro. The aim is to retain the ball until the perfect opportunity arises to move the ball into the next phase of attacking and in this regard, Hummels is easily among the best in the world. His exquisite passing range allows him to provide the attackers with passes on a platter and puts all doubts to rest that he is truly the best libero in world football today.
Hummels has the second most accurate long balls among all centre-backs in the Bundesliga with an average of 6 long balls completed out of 10 attempts every game. The German has created 4 chances via long balls which is also the second-highest for any center-back in the Bundesliga this season (via WhoScored).